Be a Star!, Book 1.(Book review)

* Be a Star!, Book 1, by Kevin Costley, edited by Helen Marlais. The FJH Music Co., Inc. (Westport Business Park, 2525 Davie Rd., Ste. 360, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317), 2005. 24 pp. $5.50. Early-Elementary/Elementary.

Be a Star! Book 1, provides little fingers the opportunity to explore the full range of the keyboard with comfortable patterns for small hands. This collection also fits the bill for teachers seeking a supplementary series that provides extra reinforcement of intervallic learning and picturesque solo repertoire for recitals. The series offered by the FJH Music Company comes in three levels--early-elementary/elementary, late-elementary and early- to mid-intermediate. Book 1 contains 13 pieces suitable for students within their first year of piano who are eager to venture beyond the five-finger zones of method books.

A quick glance through the book will entice teachers who are seeking attractive pieces that can be easily taught to youngsters through a combined approach of rote learning, interval reading reinforcement and blocked patterning. Each piece is based on several simple patterns that may combine seconds/thirds, fourths/fifths and so on, and are sequenced by step, skip or octave placements. Each piece presents a practice suggestion in the upper-left corner that can trigger ...